The joy of volunteering

Centenarian Bessie loves spending time with volunteer Sue. The pair make mischief together and can often be found sharing a joke and a giggle.

“She is wonderful – a very nice lady,” mother-of-six Bessie says, as she and Sue sit together in a quiet corner of UnitingSA’s Hawksbury Gardens Aged Care, in Salisbury North.

“It’s good that she takes time with people like me. It’s lovely here.”

How to volunteer

UnitingSA is currently looking for volunteers across all of our Residential Aged Care homes.

Some of the volunteer roles currently available include: y Resident companions y Leisure and lifestyle support y Card and board game companions y Bingo assistants

When Bessie turned 100 last April, Sue gave her a special gift.

When the big day arrived, the much anticipated telegram from the Queen wasn’t delivered in time.

So Sue simply made a fake by downloading a copy of the congratulatory certificate from the internet.

When the real one arrived a few weeks later, the true story unfolded, leaving Bessie with two telegrams from the ‘Queen’. She loves them both. The pair have shared plenty of laughs and have a beautiful friendship, which y Art and craft assistants y Football tipping assistants y Gardening group support y Men’s social group companions y Hairdresser escorts y Café assistants y Piano players

Find out more: unitingsa.com.au/ volunteer-with-us has developed through Sue’s love and dedication to Bessie and the other residents who call Hawksbury Gardens home.

Until she retired two years ago, Sue worked at Hawksbury Gardens as a carer, nurse and activities leader. But retirement couldn’t keep her away from the work she loves.

“I volunteer here once a week. I love it,” Sue says.

“You get so much pleasure from seeing the residents’ faces and being involved, perhaps having a little sing-song. They love music and they love telling you their life stories.”

Julie is another of UnitingSA’s valued volunteers. She spends time at UnitingSA West Lakes, helping to escort residents to hair appointments at the onsite salon.

When she retired in 2020, Julie was planning on going on a European cruise. Covid-19 soon put those plans on hold. When she found out about the volunteer hairdresser escort position, it sounded perfect.

“I have sisters who are hairdressers and I love getting my hair done. It makes you feel pampered and so much better,” Julie says.

“I love just seeing the residents and the interaction with them. They really appreciate everything that you do for them.

“It just makes you feel like you are making a difference in their lives.

“I’d like to think that if I’m ever in a home there would be people that will do exactly the same for me.”